News Releases

WestJet confirms rumour of hijacking false

CALGARY, Jan. 10, 2015 /CNW/ - WestJet can confirm that a rumour that WestJet flight 2154 from Vancouver to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, was hijacked this afternoon is completely false.

The rumour stemmed from a tweet by a flight-tracking website that the aircraft operating the flight was transmitting a hijack code via its transponders. However, at this point in time, WestJet has no evidence that such a code was ever transmitted. Both the flight crew and local air traffic control confirm that no such code was ever sent or received, and testing on the aircraft's transponder shows it is (and was) functionally normally. WestJet cannot speak to rumour, speculation or comments that suggest otherwise.

The aircraft arrived in Puerto Vallarta as scheduled and is now operating its scheduled flight back to Canada. WestJet would like to thank everyone for their concern for our guests and crew during this incident.

About WestJet

We are proud to be Canada's most-preferred airline, powered by an award-winning culture of care and recognized as one of the country's top employers. We offer scheduled service to more than 90 destinations in North America, Central America, the Caribbean and Europe. Through our regional airline, WestJet Encore, and with partnerships with airlines representing every major region of the world, we offer our guests more than 120 destinations in more than 20 countries. Leveraging WestJet's extensive network, flight schedule and remarkable guest experience, WestJet Vacations delivers affordable, flexible travel experiences with a variety of accommodation options for every guest. Members of our WestJet Rewards program earn WestJet dollars on flights, vacation packages and more. Our members use WestJet dollars towards the purchase of WestJet flights and vacations packages on any day, at any time, to any WestJet destination with no blackout periods – even on seat sales. For more information about everything WestJet, please visit westjet.com.  

Recent recognition includes:

2015 Best Employers in Canada (Aon Hewitt)
2014 Interbrand Canada's Best Canadian Brands (Rank #20)
2014 Brands of the Year (Strategy magazine)
2014 Canada's Most Preferred Airline (Ipsos)
2014 Value Airline of the Year (Air Transport World magazine)
2014/2013/2012 Canada's Most Attractive Employer (Randstad)
2014/2013 WestJet RBC MasterCard ranked #1 in Canada (Money Sense magazine andRewardsCanada.ca) 
2013 Highest equity score: airline, vacation package supplier brands (Harris/Decima EquiTrend Study)

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SOURCE WestJet

For further information: Media contacts: Media Relations, 1-888-WJ-4-NEWS (1-888-954-6397), media@westjet.com.